European travellers booking Easter holidays through travel agencies are opting for a mix of long-haul destinations and off-the-beaten-path locations, according to RateHawk.
The B2B platform for booking accommodation, flights, and transfers, is reporting that the most popular Easter 2025 destinations are led by Japan and the USA, and trending ones, like Iceland and Saudi Arabia.
The top 10 outbound destinations for European travellers are Japan, the USA, Spain, Italy, France, the UAE, the UK, Portugal, Turkey, and Thailand. The average transaction value for accommodation bookings is £840, with an average stay of three nights.
Japan leads with a 12.2% share of all bookings made by European travel agents, doubling the bookings compared to Easter 2024.
The country continues to attract tourists, with the Japan National Tourism Organisation forecasting international arrivals exceeding 40 million by the end of this year.
Japan’s strong flight connections with major European cities, alongside new routes introduced to meet demand, further drive this growth. Most accommodations booked via RateHawk are in key tourist hubs such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, with rising interest in lesser-known destinations like Hakone and Takayama.
This year, the Easter holidays coincide with cherry blossom season in several regions, boosting demand.
Another notable trend is the rise of Iceland among German travel agents, with accommodation bookings quadrupling compared to spring 2024.
Last year, the Blue Lagoon, one of the country’s main tourist attractions, was closed over Easter due to a volcanic eruption, likely causing deferred demand for 2025.
Additionally, forecasts suggest that 2025 will offer the most spectacular northern lights displays in decades. In mid-April of 2025, Iceland is anticipated to be one of the best places for aurora viewing, aligning with the growing popularity of noctourism — nighttime travel experiences such as stargazing and wildlife viewing.
The GCC region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is seeing strong growth in demand from British and Spanish travel agencies.
In the UK, bookings in Saudi Arabia have increased by 2.5 times, while those in the UAE have doubled year-on-year. In Spain, the UAE has reached the same level of popularity as France, Italy, and the USA, with hotel bookings increasing fourfold. This surge is largely driven by the expansion of low-cost airlines in the region.
The USA remains the top spring destination, accounting for 12% of all accommodation bookings made by European travel agents. It is particularly popular among travellers from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, with New York being the most favoured location.
“This year, long-haul destinations account for 47% of all bookings worldwide made by travel agents from Europe, which is 12% higher compared to 2024,” said Ilya Kravtsov, Chief Commercial Officer of Emerging Travel Group, RateHawk’s parent company.
“The strong demand for overseas travelling during the Easter long weekend correlates with the recent launch of multiple long-haul flights from Europe to Asia, North America, and the GCC region, increasing global connectivity. It is also encouraging to see hidden gems like Takayama in Japan or Iceland gaining popularity among European travellers.
“At RateHawk, we provide travel agents with 2.6 million accommodation options in over 220 countries and territories, from well-known international hotel chains to unusual glamping and traditional lodges like chalets and ryokans.”
